U.S. patent application number 11/411497 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-23 for paddle and ball arm exercise apparatus.
Invention is credited to Sandra J. Bazinet.
Application Number | 20060261558 11/411497 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37447640 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060261558 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bazinet; Sandra J. |
November 23, 2006 |
Paddle and ball arm exercise apparatus
Abstract
A flexible paddle and ball exercise apparatus consisting of a
paddle, having a front and back face, attached to a handle by a
flexible neck providing flexion of the paddle on impact by a
weighted rubber ball. The weighted rubber ball attached at one end
to an elastic shock cord for repeated impact against the front face
of the paddle. The elastic shock chord is attached to the paddle at
the second end having a T shaped barb that passes through the
paddle, having a center hole throughout and attached to a barb
retainer by a snap fit means on the back face of the paddle. The
elastic shock chord and weighted rubber ball having various
combinations of length and weight for quick and easy interchanging
use providing different levels of difficulty for the user.
Inventors: |
Bazinet; Sandra J.;
(Colchester, CT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MARK E. POCHAL
86 DENISON AVE
MYSTIC
CT
06355
US
|
Family ID: |
37447640 |
Appl. No.: |
11/411497 |
Filed: |
April 27, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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60681767 |
May 18, 2005 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
273/330 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63B 67/20 20130101;
A63B 43/007 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
273/330 |
International
Class: |
A63B 67/20 20060101
A63B067/20 |
Claims
1. An improved paddle and ball arm exercise apparatus, which
comprises: a paddle having a front and back face; a handle; a
flexible neck attaching the handle to the paddle for forward and
backwards flexion of the paddle; a weighted ball; and an elastic
shock cord having a first end attached to the weighted ball and a
means for attachment to the paddle at a second end, the elastic
shock cord capable of elongating and contracting to propel the
weighted ball outwards and towards the paddle for repetitive impact
against the front face.
2. The improved paddle and ball arm exercise apparatus of claim 1,
wherein the paddle is rectangular in shape.
3. The improved paddle and ball arm exercise apparatus of claim 2,
wherein the paddle is made of ABS plastic.
4. The improved paddle and ball arm exercise apparatus of claim 1,
wherein the handle is round in shape and is consists of
longitudinal grooves.
5. The improved paddle and ball arm exercise apparatus of claim 1,
wherein the weighted ball is multiple sizes.
6. The improved paddle and ball arm exercise apparatus of claim 5,
wherein the weighted ball is rubber.
7. The improved paddle and ball arm exercise apparatus of claim 1,
which further comprises: the weighted ball having a center hole
throughout and a counter bore at one end; the first end of the
elastic shock cord positioned within the center hole; a stop sleeve
crimpled to the first end; and, the stop sleeve retracted to rest
within the counter bore.
8. The improved paddle and ball arm exercise apparatus of claim 1,
wherein the means of attachment of the second end of the elastic
shock cord to the paddle further comprises: a barb retainer
attached to the back face of the paddle, the barb retainer having a
center hole in communication with the center hole of the paddle; a
T shaped barb attached to a second end of the elastic shock cord,
the barb inserted through the paddle and the barb retainer and
secured by a snap fit means within the barb retainer.
9. The improved paddle and ball arm exercise apparatus of claim 1,
wherein the elastic shock cord consists of multiple lengths.
10. The improved paddle and ball arm exercise apparatus of claim 9,
wherein the elastic shock cord consists of polypropylene, nylon and
cotton.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/681,767 which was filed on May 18,
2005.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to an arm exercise apparatus,
more specifically in combination a flexible paddle and weighted
ball attached by an elastic shock cord.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Paddle and attached return balls have been known for many
years for use primarily as amusement toys. In most cases the
paddles are made of a wood material and use light weight resilient
balls attached by various types of tethering lines. Generally, the
prior art addresses the problems of frequent breaking of the
tethering line and clumsy and difficult adjustment of the length of
the tethering line.
[0004] The present invention has for its primary objective to
provide an arm strengthening device utilizing an improved flexible
paddle, elastic shock cord and weighted rubber ball. Additional
uses of the present invention include therapeutic benefits in the
manner of physical therapy, sports training, stress reduction, and
hand-eye coordination.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a durable
arm strengthening apparatus that is safe to the user and provided
different levels of difficulty and arm strengthening and is capable
of withstanding repetitive impact with a weighted rubber ball.
[0006] A further object of the invention is to provide utility in
physical therapy, sports training, stress reduction, improved
hand-eye coordination and amusement to the user.
[0007] A further object of the invention is to utilize a barb
retainer attached to a paddle face providing a means for connecting
a barbed end of a elastic shock cord and weighted ball for a secure
attachment and at the same time allow for easy and quick removal
and replacement of various combinations of elastic shock cord
length and weighted rubber ball size.
[0008] A further object of the invention is to provide various
combinations of elastic shock cord lengths and weighted rubber ball
sizes to provide different levels of difficulty and arm
strengthening.
[0009] A further object of the invention is to provide a thin sized
paddle attached to a handle by a flexible neck allowing paddle
flexing when the weighted rubber ball impacts against the paddle
face thereby absorbing the impact of the ball reducing the impact
on the user's arm reducing risk of injury.
[0010] A further object of the invention is the method of attaching
the weighted rubber ball to the elastic shock cord by crimping a
stop sleeve to the elastic shock cord or alternatively, molding the
weighted rubber ball directly to the elastic shock cord.
[0011] In accord with the invention, an arm strengthening device is
comprised of a paddle, in the preferred embodiment constructed of
ABS plastic providing exercise to the arm of a user by repetitive
impact against the paddle by a weighted rubber ball attached to the
paddle by an elastic shock cord.
[0012] The paddle attached to a handle by a flexible neck providing
shock absorption with flexion of the paddle upon striking of the
weighted ball. The paddle further having a thin width dimension in
combination with the flexible neck acting as a shock absorber
allowing use of varying weighted rubber balls and repetitive use
without breaking the paddle or injuring the user's arm.
[0013] In the preferred embodiment, the handle is generally rounded
with longitudinal grooves providing a good gripping surface,
balance and weight saving features.
[0014] The weighted ball is attached to the paddle by an elastic
shock cord having one barbed end forming a T shape dowel after
threaded through an opening in the paddle and secured to the barb
retainer by a snap fit means.
[0015] The weighted ball, in one embodiment, is molded to a second
end of the elastic shock cord. In another embodiment, the weighted
ball is attached by drilling a hole through the center of the
weighted ball and drilling a counter bore on one end of the
weighted ball. The second end of the elastic shock cord is fed
through the center hole until approximately two inches remain. A
stop sleeve is crimped to said second end and the stop sleeve and
elastic shock cord is pulled back until the stop sleeve rests
within the counter bore opening of the weighted rubber ball. Clear
epoxy or similar material is applied to seal the remaining opening
of the weighted rubber ball.
[0016] The elastic shock cord in the preferred embodiment is
constructed of polypropylene, nylon and cotton, although other
similar suitable materials may be used.
[0017] The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of
the present invention will become more apparent from the following
description of preferred embodiments and accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] FIG. 1 is a back elevational view of a paddle, flexible neck
and handle.
[0019] FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a paddle and weighted
ball connected by a elastic shock cord and connector means to the
paddle.
[0020] FIG. 2A is a cross-sectional view of a paddle barb retainer
mounted on the back face of the paddle.
[0021] FIG. 3 is an isolated view of elastic shock cord inserted
within weighted ball and stop sleeve at one end and a T shaped barb
at the opposite end of the elastic shock cord.
[0022] FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the stop sleeve resting in the
weighted ball having a counter bore.
[0023] FIG. 5 is an isolated view of the T shaped barbed end of the
elastic shock chord.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] The invention is principally described in FIG. 1 in terms of
a generally rectangular shaped paddle (20) having a front and back
face (21a & b). The paddle is constructed of ABS plastic, in
the preferred embodiment, but may be made of other suitable
materials. The paddle (20), in the preferred embodiment is 5.83''
by 5.83'' in size for a greater impact area with the front face
(21a). The paddle (20) is attached to a handle (23) by a flexible
neck (22). The flexible neck (22) causing the paddle (20) to flex
on impact with the front face (21a) by a weighted rubber ball (28)
in use, reducing the force of the impact on the user and preventing
breaking of paddle (20) from handle (22).
[0025] The flexible neck (22) further provides use of various sizes
of weighted rubber balls in conjunction with a thin lightweight
paddle (20) to provide a durable exercise apparatus.
[0026] The handle (23) is generally round in shape and contains
longitudinal grooves (23a) in the preferred embodiment, for
improved grip control during use and providing balance and
lightweight properties.
[0027] The present invention further encompasses an elastic shock
cord (27) constructed of the preferred materials, polypropylene,
nylon, and cotton. The elastic shock cord (27) is various lengths
in combination with different size weighted rubber balls to provide
different levels of difficulty for the user.
[0028] The elastic shock cord (27) at one end has a barbed end
(31), made of nickel in the preferred embodiment, that is inserted
through an aperture through the center of paddle (20). After
insertion through the aperture, the barbed end (31) opens to form a
T shaped dowel (31a), illustrated in FIG. 5, which is connected to
a paddle barb retainer (26) mounted on the back face (21b) of
paddle (20) by a snap fit means.
[0029] This preferred method of attachment of the elastic shock
cord (27) to paddle (20) provides a secure means of attachment and
at the same time a means for quick and easy removal if the user
desires different combinations of weighted rubber ball (28) and
length of the elastic shock cord (27).
[0030] In further accord with the invention, FIGS. 3 & 4 is
illustrative of the preferred method of attachment of weighted
rubber ball (28) to the second end of the elastic shock cord (27).
Weighted rubber ball (28) having a hole through the center, and a
counter bore (32) at one end, the second end of elastic shock cord
(27) is inserted through the center hole and stop sleeve (30) is
crimped onto the second end of elastic shock cord (27), illustrated
in FIG. 3. Stop sleeve (30) and elastic shock cord (27) are
retracted until stop sleeve (30) rests within counter bore (32),
illustrated in FIG. 4. An alternate method of attachment of the
weighted ball (28) to the elastic shock cord (27) is by molding
them together.
[0031] In further accord with the invention, the handle (23) is
gripped by either the left or right hand of the operator. The
paddle front face (21a) can be pointed in any direction. Paddle
(20) is moved by anchoring the elbow of the user and using a
forearm motion to propel the weighted rubber ball (28) away from
the paddle (20). The elastic shock cord (27) connecting the
weighted rubber ball (28) and paddle, elongates and contracts
allowing the weighted rubber ball (28) to impact against the paddle
(20) in repeated sessions. The elastic shock cord (27) elongates
until the outward force no longer overcomes the contracting force
forcing the elastic shock cord (27) to contract thereby propelling
the weighted rubber ball (28) back to the direction of the
paddle.
[0032] Increasing the length of the elastic shock cord (27) and/or
using a smaller weighted rubber ball (28) increases the difficulty
in repeated impacting of the paddle and weighted rubber ball. Use
of different combinations of the elastic shock cord length (27) and
size of weighted ball (28) is possible by quick removal of the
barbed end (31) from the barb retainer (26).
[0033] Although this invention has been shown and described with
respect to some embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled
in this art that various changes in form and detail thereof may be
made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed
invention.
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